BIRD BANDING, THE TELLTALE OF MIGRATORY FLIGHT 



105 



gray back, white underparts, and black 

 wings, which, wlien spread, show a large 

 white patch in the middle (see page loyj. 



These markings, together with size, 

 give the Shrike so much general resem- 

 blance to Mocking Birds that it is some- 

 times mistaken for this songster. There 

 the resemblance ends, however, for the 

 broad, black band on each side of the 

 head, the hooked, raptorial beak, strong 

 claws, and fierce courage characterize this 

 little Ijuccaneer. 



It is imquestionably a far greater de- 

 stroyer of small birds than is commonly 

 appreciated. When in the neighborhood 

 of a banding station it quickly notices the 

 concentration of birds there and promptly 

 proceeds to take advantage of its oppor- 

 tunity. 



Sometimes a Shrike even enters the 

 trap to get at the captives. More com- 

 monly it alights on or hovers about the 

 wire meshes of the cage, until the birds 

 within develop an uncontrollable panic 

 and thrust their heads against the meshes 

 to try to escape. Then it seizes a head in 

 its claws and promptly pulls it off or lets 

 the bird fall back dead. Needless to 

 say, when found about a banding station 

 Shrikes usually have short shrift. 



NUMEROUS SPECIES ENTER THE TRAPS 



By establishing a series of automatic 

 traps at the same station, which may l)e 

 visited at frequent intervals, the number 

 of birds captured in a day may vary from 

 a few individuals to more than 200. Such 

 captures may include a considerable va- 

 riety of species. At the station near 

 Thomasville, Georgia (see, also, text, page 

 95)' 37 were taken one year between 

 January and April, including such diverse 

 "kinds as the Sparrow Hawk, Mourning 

 Dove, several kinds of Woodpeckers, 

 Blue Jays, several kinds of Sparrows, 

 Cedar Birds, several diiTerent Warblers, 

 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, 

 IMocking Bird, and others. 



Occasionally recaptures of banded birds 

 occur imder circumstances which add the 

 zest of amusing imexpectedness to ordi- 

 nary routine. A Ijanded l)ird is recap- 

 tured, its number recorded, and upon re- 

 lease it almost immediately reenters the 

 trap ! Or the observer may find it a short 

 time later awaiting him in a neighboring 

 trap. 



Photograph by S. Prentiss Haldwin 



A CROUP OF CAPTIVE CHIPPING SPARROWS 



These little birds are well loved in eastern 

 North America. They exhibit a strong confi- 

 dence in the friendliness of man and seem to 

 prefer to be around or near his habitations. 



As a result of the abundance of food 

 and protection from harm, many small 

 birds get the trap habit. Brown Thrashers 

 usually dash about trying to escape, but 

 one of these birds which was captured at 

 intervals during five different years at the 

 Thomasville station became so trapwise 

 that eventually he came to consider one 

 trap as his headquarters Sometimes he 

 took his noon siesta in it, with his head 

 turned back on his shoulders, and had 

 learned to find his way out of the Sparrow 

 traps when he had satisfied his hunger. 



On one occasion this bird was taken two 

 miles away to be photographed, and then 

 liberated. Eight days later he was back 

 at the trap. His sense of ownership was 

 so great that he persistently drove other 

 birds away, and finally had to be removed 

 so the trap might fimction. He was car- 

 ried off and liberated so far away that he 

 did not return. 



TRAPS USED AS SUMMER RESORTS 



One Chipping Sparrow at Thomasville 

 was caught in the same trap 54 times dur- 

 ing one season. A Fox Sparrow has a 

 record of being caught 165 times during 

 one winter. At Crystal Bay, Minnesota, 

 a Song Sparrow entered and was taken 

 from the trap 55 times between April 14 

 and 30; in May it was caught 106 times; 



